Grinding apparatus



J. J. WALTHER.

GRINDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4,1920. 1,41 2,985. te te Apr- 18; 1922.

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J. J. WALTHERJ GRINDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILEDVOCT. 4. 1920.

1,412,985. Pamnted Apr. 18, 1922.

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I NVENTOR JA COB J ALTHER. BY

A URN E Y J.1.WALTHER.

GRINDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED 0 T. 4, 9 1,412,985. Patented Apr-18,1922.

3 SHhETS-SHEET 3- uamamlatnalamu INVENTOR JACOB WA THEE '0. v I w entree stares JACOB J. WALTHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

GRINDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Application filed October 4, 1920. Serial No. 414,583.

ratus, having particular reference to grinding machines of an improved type for rough grinding of steel wheel castings to prepare the same for machining operations.

As is well known in this art, wheel castings of this character are rough as they come from the mold, portions of the wheel, such as the rim and hub, wh1ch require mach ning operations, having usually more or less scale sand pits and projections of metal which can best be reduced by a grinding operation before the wheel is machined to size.

Grinding of steel wheels is more or less dangerous because of the size and weight of the grinding wheels used in the operation and the speed and. presstu'e under which the grinding 'isdon.e,-the danger arising from the tendency of the grh'iding wheels to burst. Also the manual labor required in wheel grinding under the common practice is unusually heavy and is objectionable to workmen, especially because of the danger which is ever present, The present invention overcomes these difiiculties in most part, as it provides a grinding apparatus which is safe to operate and in which the manual labor required for operating is minimized.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my invention in a preferred form, but, the essential features and underlying principle of the invention being broadly new, in this art, as far as I am aware, it will be understood that various modifications may be made relative to the details of construction and arrangement here illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined and contemplated in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved grinding apparatus comprising two grinding units;

Figs. 2 and 3 are endelevations respectively of the two grinding units illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4: is a plan View of the Wheel supporting mechanism.

While my improved apparatus is here shown as comprising two grinding units,- one for grinding the face and the other the edges and hubs of the rims of wheel castings, it will be understood that the apparatus may consist of a single unit or, any number of grinding units for performing these operations, the present showing being for the purpose of illustrating the invention only without reference to the specific'details of the arrangement.

As here shown, a pit C is provided below the floor line upon which the work is done. Arranged relative to the pit is a frame structure comprising upright supporting beams 1 and an overhead structure 2 which sup ports an upper drive shaft 3 suspended in hangers 4 and having a belt pulley 5. Power is transmitted to the shaft 3 from a lower drive shaft 6 by means of a pulley 7 and belt 8,shaft 6 being driven as here shown by means of a pulley 9 and belt 10 whereby the apparatus may be connected to any suit able source, as a motor (not shown), of operating power.

Arranged parallel one with the other on opposite sides and preferably, as here shown, somewhat below the upper edge of the pit are work supporting and operating shafts 11-12,shaft 11 being connected to lower drive shaft 6 by means of a belt 18 operable over pulleys 14, 15, a counter shaft 1.6.and reduction gearing 17 whereby the speed of the shaft is stepped down from the speed of the drive shaft. While the driving connec tions here shown provide for effective operation of the apparatus, it will be understood that no broad novelty is claimed as to these detail arrangements and that'any suitable means may be employed for driving and regulating the speed of the same.

Shaft 12 is connected to shaft 11 by means of a chain 18 and sprockets 19,-th e sprockets being equal, the shafts are therefore operated at equal speeds and, as shown, in the same direction. Secured to shaft-s 1112 are oppositely disposed sets of flanged rollers 20 which are adapted to support and rotate the work to be ground,- the work in the present application of the invention consisting, as stated, of steel cast wheels 21 which set free upon the rollers 2t and are rotated. in the direction opposite to the rotation. of shafts 11-49., the flanges 22 of the rollers serving to prevent lateral displacement of the wheels while the same are being ground.

Suspended from overhead drive shaft 3 by means a carrier 23 and beam 24- is the grinder whichmay be of any suitable construction, consisting here shown, of a. rinding wheel or disc 26, guard 27, crossead 28, shaft 29, tight and loose pulleys 3()-31, belt shifter 32, and controlling handle 33,--the grinder being connected to overhead drive shaft 3 by means of the pulleys 30-31, a pulley 34 and belt 35.

The grinder is supported on shaft 3 in a manner to permit of a free swinging movement of the grinder upon the shaft as its axis and to be shifted longitudinally of the shaft by means of the carrier 23, the carrier wheels 36 traveling upon stationary sleeves 37 which. are arranged telescopically of shaft 3. In its normal relation to the work, the grinder is suspended at a subtantial angle to the vertical, as: best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being supported when not in work by a bar or brace 39,thus when the grinder is in operation its suspended weight bearing against the work will. be sufficient, with but slight additional pressureexerted by the operator through the controlling handle 33, to effect the grinding operation.

As here shown,-the apparatus as a whole is comprised of two grinding units A-B,-

the unit A, as above described, being adapted to grind the face of the rims of the steel wheels, and unit B which will presently be described, being adapted. to grind the edges of the rims and the hubsof the wheels.

As best shown in Fig. '3, grinding unit B differs from unit A only in the manner of supporting the work relative to the grinder,the wheel, as here shown, being supported to present the edge of the rim and the hub substantially at right angles to the grinder. To this end transverse suporting shafts 4041 are disposed between shafts 11-12,'the shafts being supported in suitable bearings and connected one with the other by means of a chain 4-2 and sprockets 43, and havin opposite work supporting rollers 44-. haft 40, being the drive shaft, is connected to shaft 12 by gears 4546,gear 45 being adjustable on shaft 12 to be moved into and out of mesh with gear 46 by means of a shifter lever 47. Thus rotation of the work,-the east wheel 21, upon rollers +14- may be stopped as desired by the operator, when grinding of the wheel will be continuous at one point, as at a rough spot in the metal, during the interval that the supporting rollers are stopped. To grind the opposite sides of the wheel the casting will be reversed upon rollers 44.

The work supporting rollers 2044 are adjustable as to the distance that one rolleris spaced from another upon the respective shafts. Thus provision is made for supporting and grinding wheels of variable face dimensions.

From the foregoing detailed description the construction and operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. lhe construction here shown is of a preferred form but suitable modifications may be made thereof to suit the character of the work and conditions of operation without departing from the underlying principle of the invention.

It will be obvious that the manual labor required to operate the grinder is reduced to the minimum by the manner of suspending the grinding units so that the grinding pressure will be generated by the weight of the grinding head, thus the operator will have little to do other than to direct the movements of the apparatus. The element of danger is practically removed by the effective manner of guarding-the grinding disc and the distance that the operator is removed from the disc while at work,.the rotation of the disc being in the opposite direction from the operator.

.Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination .with power transmission mechanism, of opposite parallel shafts, operatively connected to said power mechanism and having work-supporting means thereon,

reduction gearing between the power mechanism and said shafts, overhead power trans mission mechanism, a grinder suspended from and operatively connected to the overhead mechanism and means to swing the grinder at right angles and shift the same axially relative to said overhead mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character described, thecombination with power transmission mechanism, of opposite parallel shafts operatively connected to said power mechanism and one with the other to "r0.- tate in unison and having work supporting means operably supported thereon, reduction gearing between the power mechanism and said. shaft, overhead power transmission mechanism, a grinder suspended from and operatively connected to theoverhead mechanism and means to swing the 1 grinder at right angles and shift the same axially relative to said overhead mechanism.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with power transmission mechanism, of work supporting and work actuating means operatively connected to said power mechanism, work-speed regulating means between the work supporting means and said power mechanism, overhead power transmission mechanism, a grinder'13 suspended from and operatively connected to the overhead mechanism and means to swing the grinder at right angles and shift the same axially relative to said overhead mechanism.

l. In a machine of the character clescribed, the combination with power transmission mechanism, of work supporting and work actuating means operatively connected to said power mechanism, means to adjust the work supporting means for work of variable dimensions, overhead power transmission mechanism, a grinder suspended from and operatively connected to the overhead mechanism and means to swing the grinder at right angles and shift the same axially relative to said overhead mechanism.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with power transmission mechanism, of opposite parallel shafts, operatively connected to said power mechanism and having work-supporting means thereon, reduction gearing between the power mechanism and said shaft, overhead power transmission mechanism, a grinder suspended from and operatively connected to the overhead mechanism at a suitable angle to cause the grinder by its own weight to rest against the work, means to exert additional pressure of the grinder on the work by manual pressure as the grinding operation is being effected, and means to swing the grinder at right angles and shift the same axially relative to said overhead mechanism.

6. In a machine for grinding the rims and hubs of steel wheels, the combination with power transmission mechanism, of work supporting means operatively connected to said power mechanism and adapted to support said wheels and rotate the same suitably for the different grinding operations, overhead power transmission mechanism, a grinding apparatus suspended from and operatively connected to said overhead mechanism, whereby said grinding operations can be effected, and means to render certain of the work supporting means inoperative to effect continuous grinding on portions of said wheel.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature.

J AOOB J. lVALTHER. 

